Yeah, she's a lot like Madonna, but she cites her main artistic influences as Elton John, David Bowie and Queen. Hence the cracks about being a gay man in a woman's body.
A lot of entertainers look down their noses at "pop" music, but she embraces it. She also cites Andy Warhol as an influence...the guy that took ordinary every day items and turned them into "art", and she tries to do the same thing.
I read a lengthy article about her when she first hit the scene...I liked the song "Poker Face" (at least for a while) and was just interested in learning about here.
Not a fan, but I agree that she is talented. She at least writes most of her own stuff.
In some ways there are parallels between her and KISS, a band I'm a big fan of as many of you all know.
Obviously not in musical styles, but the theactrical approach to their performances. I've heard her sing and I do think she's talented in that regard, but she's also talented in finding a niche and exploiting it.. much like KISS. Gene Simmons is probably the most vocal member of the group, but they've all made it clear that credibilty within the music industry doesn't mean s*** to them. And I imagine Gaga would say the same thing. It's all relative, some bands/performers go to great lengths to be accepted by critics. KISS also went through that phase, and it didn't go so well.
You know, I've read or watched just about every bibliographical KISS piece. KISS isn't "shocking" these days, but when they first formed they were. Even their management/creative team tried to convince them to not use makeup.. right up until the photo shoot for their first album he called and said "are you guys sure you want to do this with makeup?" and they said "yup!"
There are a lot of things I don't agree with Gaga on (there's alot I don't agree with Gene Simmons on, too), but I do like artists who are willing to step out and do their own thing. It's more interesting, to me.
They're actually big fans of each other, too... Gaga and KISS.